Integral filters for separating fluid components and housing for them

Abstract

In an integral filter (F) for separating fluid components which filter can be enclosed in a surrounding housing (1,2) with fluid connections (A1 l to A3, 10) the permeable tube jacket of which filter consists of several tubular filter elements (K1, K2) with different filter qualities whose cross sections are stepped in such a manner that a smaller filter element is surrounded by a larger filter element, optionally with formation of an intermediary space (Z1), and in which the two tube ends are enclosed by closure and connection adapters (15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 31) and can be adapted to fluid chambers (13, 14) of the housing, sections of the total filter (F) can be selectively tested for integrity, supplied with and emptied of fluid and filling substances via an intermediary space (Z1) between two filter elements (K1, K2) which intermediary space can be separately controlled and loaded from the outside.

We claim: 
     
       1. A tubular filter means enclosed in a housing mean, said tubular filter means including a plurality of tubular filters each of a different diameter size and are positioned in said housing means concentrically, each of said tubular filters being radially dimensioned in thickness to provide spaces therebetween and an axial core space in an innermost tubular filter, said tubular filter means having a first cap at an end of the tubular filter means and a second cap at the other end of the tubular filter means, said housing means including a tubular shell, said shell being dimensioned to define a space about the filters, said tubular shell having a top and an open bottom, a bottom means adapted and constructed to be detachably secured to the tubular shell to complete the said housing means, the tubular filter means mounted on the said bottom means internally of said housing means, as axial conduit in said second cap and bottom means fluidly communicating said axial core space externally of said housing means, at least one further conduit means in said bottom means communicating said space between said tubular filters externally of said housing means and including a tube fluidly connecting through said bottom and extending upwardly through said space between the tubular filter means and said housing means to a tubular connection through said first cap to a space between said tubular filters, and at least one of the spaces between the tubular filters filled with a filter medium. 
     
     
       2. The tubular filter means of claim 1 wherein the filter medium in at least one of the spaces between the tubular filters is an ionic exchange medium.